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Reviewed Work(s): Feeding the Democracy: The Athenian Grain Supply in the Fifth and
Fourth Centuries (Oxford Classical Monographs) by A. MORENO; War, Food and Politics in
Early Hellenistic Athens by G.J. OLIVER
Review by: David Braund
Source: The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 132 (2012), pp. 213-215
Published by: The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41722295
Accessed: 01-04-2019 09:45 UTC
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HISTORY 213
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214 REVIEWS OF BOOKS
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HISTORY 215
alsoa surveyempire
of and fewer citizens, confirms theat lar
society
special forces, etc.).
connection between democracy andThe
war-making, th
turns to thewhile
public finances
the scale of Athens' military activity will
interaction have
of had at least an indirect effect on thebene
public
revenues and support
democracy. from
the provision The
of grain.
papers which follow are grouped themati-
Oliver offers
cally in twos and a convincin
threes. J. Ober argues here, as
Athenian economy in
he has argued elsewhere, for Athens' success in ong
disruption, under siege,
deploying the shared knowledge of the citizens; occu
yet surviving well
and R.K. Balot supports enough
the view of Thucydides'
unclear how Pericles that the Athenians
much of did indeed
thathave a eco
really new, superior
for (Moreno's
courage based on deliberation. I. Spence
standing) the Athenian
discusses the acceptance by democratic food
Athens of
an uncertain and
its need yet
for a force of cavalry; and vital
M. Trundle
sophisticatedexplores
conclusion poin
Athens' innovative use of light infantry.
to be gained S. Mills examines
by bringingEuripides' treatment of warfare,
toget
supply with and argues that he did not
themes ofcriticizewar
Athenian a
often handled more
military ventures; or that
and D. Konstan suggests less
only be Aristophanes
struck by criticized warmongering,
the but in
resilie
whose fragilities might
such a way that the audiences als
could feel that both
flexibilities. sides
Throughout,
had been heard and could continue making Ol
understanding war. A.J.L.
ofBlansharda
showschallengi
how lawcourt
very speeches could indeed,
impressive on occasions challenge as is
awkward set
mainstreamof data
military values; to
and P. Hunt argues p
history. that Athens was not exceptionally militaristic, but
Sincere apologies are due to both authors, for was optimistic enough to think of the past as
this review has been delayed for far too long by a victorious and to believe that victory could be
series of unforeseen difficulties, now overcome. won in the present.
David Braund R. Osborne focuses on the funeral monument
University of Exeterof the cavalryman Dexileos, in 394/393, as a
d.c.braund@ex.ac.ukmilestone in the development from Athens'
commemoration of collective achievements in war
towards the greater commemoration of individual
PRITCHARD (D.M.) Ed. War, Democracy achievements;and P. Hannah studies the fifth-century
Culture in Classical Athens. Cambridge: 'warrior loutrophoroV , which by depicting
Cambridge University Press, 2010. Pp. xviii + beautiful men in beautiful equipment, calmly
460, illus. £65. 9780521190336. going to their deaths like heroes, reinforced the
doi: 1 0. 1 0 1 7/S00754269 1 200048 1 positive view of fighting for Athens; M.C. Miller
explores the symbolism of the 'I am Eurymedon'
Pritchard has assembled a galaxy of well-qualified vase, stressing the lower-class physiognomy and
contributors from four continents. Most spoke at dress of the victorious Greek. P. Low suggests
a conference on this theme in Sydney in 2006, the that the tombs of the war-dead meant less to the
two on drama at a conference there the following Athenians than other, more positive commemora-
year. tions of war; S. Yoshitake argues that the war-dead
In his introduction Pritchard stresses that were praised in the funeral speeches not because
Athens in the late sixth and fifth centuries
all had displayed arete or because they on their
underwent not only a democratic but alsoown
a had gained Athens' successes, but because
they had all faced and succumbed to the dangers
military transformation, with much more frequent
resort to warfare, in new styles, supported by and
the so could be considered representative of all
empire and by the large number of citizens Athens' warriors. J. Keane in an epilogue shows
available for service. The democracy encouraged
from Athenian and recent history that democracies
resort to war, but reduced the risk of ill-chosen
are not inherently peace-loving, but are at least
and badly-managed adventures. Continuing
able to hold to account those who would lead them
military success in the fourth century, with into
no war.
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